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Iris Mittenaere tours US Embassy, prepares to fly to New York

French beauty queen and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere visited the United States Embassy in Manila on Wednesday, two days after Pia Wurtzbach passed on the coveted crown to her during the grand coronation event in Pasay City.

Mittenaere was in the Embassy as she prepares to fly to New York, which will be her home as the new Miss Universe. Mittenaere and Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart were welcomed by US Ambassador Sung Kim.

“New York City... will be her home base while she spends her reign traveling the globe, developing and representing her platforms, and raising awareness and funds for charitable initiatives,” the Miss Universe website states.

Aside from accommodations, the titleholder will also receive “a year-long salary; all paid living expenses; personal appearance wardrobe and styling by the official Miss Universe Organization fashion stylist; extensive international and domestic travel; and access to various New York City events including casting opportunities, movie premieres, fashion week, sporting events and career opportunities presented by one the world’s largest and most dynamic entertainment agencies, WME|IMG, parent company of The Miss Universe Organization.”

READ: Pia passing Miss Universe  crown to Iris hailed as ‘brightest symbol’ of PHL-France ties

Iris is only the second French beauty to hold the title, the first one having been Christiane Martel all the way back in 1953.

She is also the first winner from a Western European country since Norway's Mona Grudt in 1990.  — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News